The annual Hong Kong Book Fair, one of the world’s largest, this year recorded stronger sales but visitors can still enjoy discounts of up to 50 per cent on Tuesday as the event comes to a close.

Seven publishers under Sino United Publishing – controlled by Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong – said they expected a growth in sales of just under 10 per cent from 2016, according to group general manager Terence Leung Wing-chung.

Yu said visitors were more willing to spend this year, and that books with attractive packaging and about unique Hong Kong culture sold best for his company.

However, some exhibitors witnessed a decline in sales, including Taiwan-based Megaviz Publishing Company, which has been participating in the fair for more than 10 years.

Manager Steven Chao said customers were more “cautious” this year, with most buying only one or two titles. Chao predicted a 20 per cent drop in sales compared with previous figures for the company, which specialises in books on art and design.

“The market for design books is getting smaller in Hong Kong and in Taiwan as well,” he said.

“Lots of visitors would just walk in, take a look, and then walk away.”

Unwilling to offer discounts on the last day of the book fair, Chao said he was ready to take about half of his products back to Taiwan. He added that they wanted to be fair to those who had bought products at full price, and that his company did not want to lose customers’ trust by slashing prices on the last day.